SHC directs FIA to extradite Hammad Siddiqui

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has once again directed the Federal Investigation Agency to take steps for ascertaining the whereabouts of Hammad Siddiqui, former incharge of the defunct Karachi Tanzeemi Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and a proclaimed offender in the Baldia Town factory fire case, and extraditing him.

The direction came on a petition with regard to the extradition of Pakistani nationals who were involved in criminal cases from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries. The high court had directed the federal interior and foreign affairs ministries to explain why Siddiqui had still not been extradited despite court orders.

The high court was informed that red warrants had been issued against Siddiqui and received by all 192 Interpol states whereas his national identity card and passport had been cancelled with no new passport issued to him.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha noted in its order that it seemed that the FIA had hardly made any effort to trace out proclaimed offender Hammad Siddiqui.

The high court directed the FIA director general (DG) to send a senior officer well-acquainted with the fact of the case to provide a complete report on efforts made by the agency to locate and extradite Siddiqui.

The SHC observed that it was quite incredible that the machinery of the Pakistan government could not find the whereabouts of such a prominent figure who should have been found if serious efforts were put into finding him.

The bench observed that it was expected that the whereabouts of Siddiqui should at least be found on the next date of hearing by the government of Pakistan as the failure to ascertain his whereabouts keeping in view the expertise available with the government was quite inexplicable.

Regarding the extradition of Syed Taqi Haider Shah, another absconder who was involved in a murder case, the high court directed the interior special secretary to engage a legal expert in the UAE at the expense of the government of Pakistan to assist them in dealing with the extradition process in accordance with the law of the UAE.

The high court had earlier been informed by a federal law officer that documents were not in accordance with the the UAE government’s requirements in order to proceed with the extradition application.

The SHC had directed the government to send appropriate application for extradition of Shah in accordance with the requirement of the UAE government.

It had observed that in case the extradition application was not accepted, the federal ministries of interior and foreign affairs would be held responsible if the fault was found at their end.